Organization overhaul

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Throughout the years I have been lucky enough to inherit so many crafting things. Add to that all the things I was also fortunate enough to budget for, and it became a lot! I try to confine everything into my craft room closet, but that became a messy hoard that turned me off from crafting. What to do? Well, sometimes going through a work-life balance transition gets so boring that inspiration hits, and before you know it, you’re knee deep in a chaotic pile of goodies for days. No, I am serious. Piles of goodie madness.

I began by removing everything out of the sewing half.

The other half of my closet is dedicated to scrapbooking; I have small bins in the window seat for other crafting things like clay or painting.

I needed to see everything I had to formulate a plan. I added another shelf, and spaced the ones I had already a tad differently so that I could fit in more organized tubs. Then I tackled one “type” at a time.

I purged as I went but surprisingly, most of the stuff I had was still in great shape (some being quite, quite older then my own self!). With a little more OCD-like organization, my closet became like the Tardis and I could keep almost all of it. But rather than just stashing it to never see the light of day again, it would become perfectly sorted for ease of use!

I realized I needed more storage. I already had an Iris storage cart for my scrapbooking and it was great (not the drawered version, but the kind with independent bins that slide in and fully out of the cart). Why not buy one more for sewing? Turned out I needed two, but hey – I had some coupons! I also purchased two more Iris photo and craft storage bins. I am not sure if they are out of production (I could not find them at the Iris site to link up) but they are around the interwebz. The scrapbooking one isn’t as neatly organized, but it goes like this: sticker letters, chipboard letters, chipboard shapes, other stickers, WIP #1, WIP #2, and WIP#3. Up next is my sewing supplies: DMC threads, craft threads, beads, zippers, binding & piping, and finally tools like clasps, button tape, grommets, fabric weights, magnetic closures, and so on. The third cart is trims: metallic and colorful trims; crocheted and fancy trims; scrap ribbons, cords, pipecleaners, wires, leather cords, sturdy twill tapes, and patches; lace ruffle trims; crocheted and fabric ruffle trims; pom-poms and specialty trims.

I originally intended to just toss things in the bins but I quickly realized that if they weren’t orderly, I would need yet more storage! So I looked to my ever-growing pile of cardboard I collect from the kitties’ wet food boxes. I cut them down to an appropriate size, measured every single piece of ribbon and lace and trim, wrote the measurement on the card, wrapped and pinned them, and then organized by type and color. Yes, that is absolutely crazy, and yes, I have way too much time on my hands. But looking back, I am super proud of how accessible everything is now!

Even the buttons are color-coded. How did this happen to me?!

You’d think that I’d be over organizing after the many days that this took! Au contraire! I tackled my fabrics next, as I had newly inherited way more than I had space for. I have five now dedicated to that purpose. 1) Interfacing + stuffing 2) felts + leathers + velvets + corduroys 3) specialty fabrics like upholsteries 4) stiff fabrics like canvases and 5) cottons.

All sorted by types and colors in (unzipped) ziplock bags so I can just remove the color way I am interested in and easily keep things organized.

It was a lot of work, no joke. It is not something I would have ever done in better weather or when I had a job or anything of the sort, but the stars aligned and it is done, huzzah! I can’t wait to tackle some new projects from the inspiration looking through those items has granted me! And, since that dragged on for as long as it did, I became OCD elsewhere. Junk drawer? Check. Bathroom cabinets? Check. Bedroom closet? Check. Other closets up next!

 

 

 

See more posts related to:

2 Comments

  1. Gert

    I commend you on a JOB WELL DONE! Presently, I’m busy making my entire basement into my Sewing Area! One room will be strictly storage. I now have set up a “cutting area” for fabric cutting and using my Accu Cut. Have my Machines set up in the middle of the floor for easy walk around access. Definitely not done yet — but, happy with the results thus far!

    Reply
    • CaLynn

      Thank you, Gert! It was soooo tedious, but the results are fabulous! I am super jealous of your basement! To think, expanding beyond a closet! A girl can dream:D I wish you the best in your efforts!

      Reply

Leave a Reply to CaLynn Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Looking for more cases of the Crafties?
Hexie Dreams 18

Hexie Dreams 18

My fussy-cut EPP Hexie Dreams quilt is coming along. All the flowers were stitched into rows and the rows are being stitched together now for the final push. I also share some of my dear sewing supplies!

read more
Stitch Club: Maue

Stitch Club: Maue

TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club with Joetta Maue prompted a stitched piece from a photograph and I’ve recreated an adored image of my late grandparents.

read more
Hexie Dreams 17

Hexie Dreams 17

A quick update on my fussy-cut EPP hexie dreams quilt. A whopping 131 flowers are now complete, yay!

read more
Stitch Club: Weighton 2.1

Stitch Club: Weighton 2.1

Haf Weighton lead another TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club workshop on architectural layering, and I was inspired to render New Albany’s Culbertson Mansion based on a photograph by Daniel Andis.

read more
Stitch Club: Sproule

Stitch Club: Sproule

April Sproule led a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club using a spiral concept. I felt like this would be a nice project for a friend and asked her for a color palette, hence the unusual-for-me color theme.

read more
Collaged Slow Stitch

Collaged Slow Stitch

I made a quirky and weird slow-stitched collage to try to push through a creative slump. It was much more about doing than the outcome.

read more
Stitch Camp 2023

Stitch Camp 2023

I stitched this mixed media piece following Gwen Hedley’s instruction through TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Camp.

read more
Tea Cup study

Tea Cup study

I was inspired to stitch up a stack of tea cups which lead to starting a second project that I’m still thinking about.

read more
Stitch Club: Clover

Stitch Club: Clover

Jette Clover lead a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club using scraps and a stamp. I used a country farm stamp with a big red barn as inspiration.

read more
Stitch Club: Tume

Stitch Club: Tume

Kate Time lead a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club on narrative bead texture, and I was inspired to have a play!

read more
Open Press Project

Open Press Project

I ordered a small print press from the Open Press Project and have begun experimenting with pressing leaves.

read more
Stitch Club: Notman

Stitch Club: Notman

Emily Notman lead a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club where we would learn to make a jar wrap, and I was inspired to create a scene along a lakefront at sunset with cattails blowing in the wind.

read more
Stitch Club: Bliss

Stitch Club: Bliss

Oliver Bliss lead a TextileArtist.org’s Stitch Club recently centered on color blocking, and I was inspired to stitch up a skull with flowers.

read more